Yerevan/Mediamax/. 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign has been launched in Yerevan today.

UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Bradley Busetto delivered the joint statement of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the US and British Embassies in Armenia, and the UN.

“Violence against women is a human right violence, and a serious one. Gender-based and particularly domestic violence is a serious challenge for Armenia. In the first half of 2016, 373 cases of domestic violence were registered in Armenia, 7 of them with a lethal outcome,” he said.

According to Bradley Busetto, the international community estimates positively Armenia’s progress in battling domestic violence.

“No one can solve the problem of domestic violence alone. The international community is ready to support the Government of Armenia in creating an environment where women are equal members of society and valuable contributors to the development of this country,” the UN representative said.

Acting Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia Dirk Lorenz stated that the EU is realizing a budget support program in Armenia, which is aimed at fight against intolerance and violence.

“We provide financing for reforms in Armenia and particularly adoption of the law against domestic violence,” the EU official said, expressing his hope that the process of adoption of the law will gain a new scale soon.

Assistant to Armenian Prime Minister Aram Vardevanyan noted that Armenia has rather serious issues in the sphere of women’s rights, which can be prevented by creating necessary legislative guarantees.

He expressed confidence that the government will realize efforts in this direction.

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence will last until December 10.

Within this campaign the UN in Armenia and Mediamax announce My Wife is My Friend contest.